Biology

Jirachi is a small, white, humanoid Pokémon. It has short, stubby legs and comparatively longer arms. There are flaps on the underside of its arms, which give the impression of long sleeves. On its belly is a curved seam, which conceals a third eye, known as its "true" eye. Additionally, it has a normal pair of circular eyes on its face, with small, blue triangular markings underneath. On its head is a large, yellow structure with three points extending outward: one from the top and one on either side. On each point is a blue tag, known as a "wish tag". A rounded extension hangs from either side of the yellow structure, framing Jirachi's face. Two yellow streamers flow from this Pokémon’s back, resembling comet tails.

Jirachi hibernates for extensive periods, forming a protective crystalline shell as it sleeps. However, it is still capable of fighting while asleep if it is in danger. It awakens for seven days every thousand year, but can also waken if sung to by a voice of purity. During the short periods when it is awake, Jirachi is said to grant wishes. However, in the anime, Jirachi cannot create an object that is desired from a wish. Instead, it teleports the desired object to the person that made the wish. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Jirachi's wishes are granted by writing on the three tags located on its head. Due to only having three tags, Jirachi can only grant three wishes. The anime further reveals that Jirachi's awakening is linked to the Millennium Comet, and that its third eye has the ability to absorb the energy Jirachi needs for hibernation. Although it is extremely rare, Jirachi can be found in the mountains. Jirachi is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Doom Desire.

In the anime

Jirachi in the anime

Major appearances

Jirachi's only major anime appearance was in Jirachi: Wish Maker. Jirachi will only awaken during the week of the thousand-year comet and if there is a partner that can be its friend. Max filled that role in the movie. However, Butler wanted to use Jirachi's powers to awaken Groudon. When Butler gained control of Jirachi, he forced it to use its power, inadvertently creating a fake Groudon that would devour everything in sight with its liquid-like tentacles. With the help of Butler, Max, and Ash, Jirachi managed to destroy the Groudon with Doom Desire.

Pokédex entries

Jirachi, the Wish Pokémon. Reputed to have the power to grant wishes, Jirachi only awakens for seven days every thousand years.

This concludes the entries from the Best Wishes series.

In the manga

Jirachi in Pokémon Adventures

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

The seven days Jirachi was awake coincided with the seven days of the opening ceremonies for the Battle Frontier. At the request of Professor Oak, Emerald tried to capture Jirachi while he was there. However, Guile Hideout managed to capture Jirachi first. At the end of the chapter, Jirachi opens its third eye to Emerald and revives the five petrified Pokédex Holders, and goes back into its lengthy slumber as Emerald thanks it.

In the TCG

Other appearances

Jirachi appears as a rare Poké Ball Pokémon in its first appearance in the Super Smash Bros. series. The chance of it appearing is 1 in 493 (the amount of Pokémon in the Generation IVNational Pokédex). Like the other "secret" Pokémon, it drops rare items instead of just flying away. In Jirachi's case, the items are stickers.

Trophy Information

A Wish Pokémon. It's said to awaken for seven days once every thousand years, with the ability to grant any wish asked of it. It is truly a Pokémon of which dreams are made. In combat it uses its wish power to attack. Its attack, Doom Desire, which causes light to rain down from the heavens to do tremendous damage, is especially powerful.

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire: While in the Ruins, one of the slot machine prizes is the chance to capture Jirachi. Jirachi will move around and must be hit three times in 30 seconds for the capture to be successful. There is only one chance per pinball game.

Origin

Jirachi's design and ability of granting wishes probably refer to the habit of "wishing upon a star", so that the wish will come true. Considering its humanoid appearance and ability to grant wishes, it is also possible that it was inspired by Arabic myths about genies, or djinn. In some myths, imprisoned genies would grant wishes to the person who released them. The tags of paper on its head are a reference toward the paper strips (短冊, tanzaku) written on Tanabata.

Name origin

Jirachi is derived from желать zhelatʹ (Russian for wish). It may also involve 幸 sachi (wish, happiness, or fortune).

In other languages

Language

Title

Meaning

Japanese

ジラーチ Jirachi

Possibly from желать zhelatʹ (Russian for wish). It may also involve 幸 sachi (wish, happiness, or fortune) or the anglicized jireh (yireh, Hebrew for provider)